When are you going to publish some more in the Starbuck Chronicles? Doug Merritt
Don't know - but when I do I'll be sure to post the details to this website.
Hi Bernard, I've really enjoyed reading your books over the years - I'm soon to start at University as a mature student (studying Scottish medieval history), and I put my interest in the subject down to you and my taking part in LOTS of re-enactment! Anyway, I wanted to ask, have you any plans for a book set during one of the Jacobite rebellions? It would be good to hear about it from an Englishman's point of view! Thanks again, alan
No plans for it at the moment - but perhaps one day?
Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have often wondered to what extent the filming or televising of an authors' work whilst novels are still being written affects subsequent books. Are you concious of any Sean Bean influences on Richard Sharpe in more recent books? Keep up the great work! Regards John Roach
Sure - I hear Sean's voice when I write Sharpe.
After reading all your books, I found a copy of Crowning Mercy and Fallen Angels. I read Crowning Mercy and my wife read Fallen Angels. As I started reading Fallen Angels I told my wife she should of read Crowning Mercy first. My wife is mad now but she said it was very well written. I do have to read Fallen Angels in private due to the cover looking like a romance novel (my copy is old and is written by Susannah Kells). We would like to know, did you and your wife write both books? How come you didn't continue the series. I have not finished Fallen Angels yet but my adivce to your readers is read a Crowning Mercy first. Both books are excellent books. If you are male and buy the older version of Fallen Angels, you might have to read it in private. Can't wait for your next book. Scott Wendt
We did - until she grew tired of the process.
I am only 13 years old, but greatly enjoy your books. I have greatly enjoyed the Thomas of Hookton Trilogy. The Archer's tale is my favorite book. I find your style of writing humongously entertaining. I was wondering if there are any plans to make a movie triology on the books. Thank you for your time. Allan Hernandez
Dear Mr. Cornwell, I know you probably have heard this before but I love your books and one day hope to become a writer as talented as yourself. In fact I even read your books to coworkers and get them to the great parts and go home for the day just to tease them. My main question is do they plan on buying the movie rights to your grail series? I'm sure it would make a great movie or movies but I would imagine I would be disappointed if they left anything out like screenwriters have to do.. thank you. Wade Walker
Thanks for your messages. No plans for a movie right now - but I'd be happy to see it happen!
Dear Mr Cornwell Sorry to write again, but is Patrick Lassan the son of Richard Sharpe? Because it says in Copperhead that his father was a British Infantryman, and Sharpe had a son called Patrick! Also, are you planning to write anymore Sharpe books following Sharpe's Devil, or are future sharpe books going to slot between exisiting books? Finally, in the Arthur books, what happens when the saxons invade? Do Derfel and Sansum die? thanks Basil Vincent
Patrick Lassan is Sharpe's son. No books to follow Sharpe's Devil - future books will slot between existing books. What happens to Derfel and Sansum? That's left to the reader I'm afraid...
Dear Bernard, I was interested by the questions (and your remarks) about Wellington, as I have begun to take quite an interest in the man, due in main to my love of the Sharpe novels. I read that he once said, of his being an Irishman, that being born in a stable does not make a man a horse. Do you think he was ashamed to be Irish? I am an Irishman myself, and therefore am aghast at such a notion! But I think in those times Ireland was England's poor relation, and being Irish was not something one would trumpet about. Paul Reid
You should be aghast and you're right, he did say it. Ashamed? Maybe slightly, The family came from the Anglo-Irish nobility and, like all nobility, they wanted to be as aristocratic as possible and, I suppose, snobs reckoned that the English aristocracy (being closer to the throne) were purer than the Anglo-Irish nobs, and it's all nonsense. He thought of himself as English, and probably wished he had been born in London rather than Dublin. Me, I'd much rather be a Dubliner. I'm a great admirer of Wellington, but the one very unattractive part of his character is that he was a dreadful snob - but no-one's perfect, and if he was such a snob then it probably proves he was more English than Irish!
Dear Bernard, I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'm currently writing a bit of a sci-fi story, or at least I was. I'm not expecting it to be published or anything, it's just that I'd really like to finish it. The problem is I've barely started it, and I'm already lacking inspiration to write it. I like my ideas; I'm just finding writing it to be a bit of a bugger. I was wondering if you have any advice on that? I'm still only 18, so maybe I just can't hack it yet. But on a lighter note, I have a few questions. Did you ever receive professional criticism from someone you admired? JK Rowling (my favourite author next to you!) said she had, and it was a big blow. Also did you ever find you needed a specific confidence to write about characters like Wellington who actually existed and may not have done the things they did in your books? All of my Thanks, James Trethowan
I can't remember receiving criticism from anyone I admired, but I can imagine it would be upsetting - though if anyone did offer professional criticism to J.K. Rowling I'd think they were either jealous or idiotic. A specific confidence? Foolhardiness, perhaps. And at the back of my Wellington is a lifetime's reading and admiration of the man, and I suppose that helps. For writing tips you may want to take a look at the writing advice posted to this website (go to the FAQ page, scroll down to the last listing, and click on the link for 'writing advice'). Good luck!
Dear Bernard, Recently read two of your 'stand alone' novels in Redcoat and Gallows Thief and have to say they are up there with my favourites. I think I discovered two of your best characters in these books for different reaons. In Redcoat Kit Vane has got be the one of the most loathsome characters you've ever written probably worse than Hakeswill because it seems Hakeswill was just born that way whereas Vane should just know better. In Gallows Thief of course it has to be Rider Sandman a totally top bloke. I'd like to add my name to the list of people clamouring for another Sandman novel but if this is not possible what are the chances of Sandman making a cameo appearance in A Sharpe novel, no matter how brief. Sandman was at Waterloo and I'm guessing in the army a few years before that so is it a possibility? I think it would be a great idea. Many thanks. Paul
So do I, and he has, though I don't name him - but he's the lieutenant who talks cricket to the poor French captured officer in Sharpe's Escape.
Hi. I am a huge fan of your books. They're great! I haven't read them all, as I haven't had the time. I have only read a few of the Sharpe books (Sharpe's Tiger being my favorite) Harlequin, Stonehenge and the Arthur trilogy. I have noticed that in the latter three, that there is a common occurrence. The main character falls in love with a woman, then something happens to that woman, and the main character finds another woman. Do you do this deliberately, or is it a subconscious thing? Thanks. Ben Owen
Absolutely subconscious. And I realise, to my chagrin, that it's happening in the book I'm writing right now. Oh well.